1997-98 WWE MVP

[The Fabulous Rougeau's]

This one should be interesting as there are multiple choices out there that strong cases can be made for. This is also one of the best years for in ring product so that just adds to the significance of the performers called out here for MVP because not only are they doing great work but there doing it around other great work.

I believe it comes down to one of the four between Austin, Hart, Michaels and Taker. While I would say that Bret probably had the best work of anyone at anytime during this year the fact that he was not there from post Survivor Series to Mania keeps me from choosing him. Same goes for Michaels with all the time he missed during the year. While Austin missed some time as well he was kept on camera between SummerSlam and Survivor Series so it really didn't effect him. No doubt it was a huge year for Austin who made the seamless transition from mid card to main event during this year.

That withstanding, my pick for MVP would go to Undertaker. Having just rewatched this time period I forgot just how over Taker was. The fans where truly behind him and he was really the top face until Austin took over towards the end of the year. While Taker didn't have great feuds during his title reigns he put on some great matches with Mankind, Austin and Bret while he was champ. Then you add in his near year long feud with Bearer and than Kane once he debuted that lead to there match at Mania 14 and that seals the deal for me. Throw in 3 matches with Shawn one of which was the classic 1st HIAC match and you have the icing on the cake for why Taker was the MVP for 97-98.

 

[Goldie]

As a whole over this 2 year period my pick is Steve Austin. Even at the start he was smoking... winning the 1997 Royal Rumble, had the most prominent fued going in wrestling in the spring (vs Bret and the Harts). He obviously suffered a blip at summerslam with a broken neck... but was back in action 3 months later.
1998 he was the biggest star in all of wrestling.... no one was even close. Austin was insanely popular and all the biggest storylines evolved around him.

With Undertaker.... my argument has always been he has consistently been one of the top3 or 4 guys in the company for years and years... without ever being the top guy (or the MVP if you will).
In the early 90s Hogan and Warrior were the flag bearers, mid 90s it was Bret and Shawn, Austin, Rock, Foley and HHH were bigger stars during the Attitude era and so on...
Takers longevity is key to his legendary status... but at any given time, there was a more over star

 

[thebarber]

hard as Austin was out August-November with his neck injury. Bret Hart was hot until Montreal, HBK was super over until he done his back and only wreslted once after the Rumble in 1998.
As far as consistency, Steve Austin would be the MVP for this period if we measure through to end of 1998

 

[CrucifiedRaven]

From WM13-WM14, this one is really hard to choose for many reasons. .. All four of the guys you listed were doing some of their absolute best work, but a lot of them also missed significant time.

Undertaker: Won the title at 'Mania, had a five month long reign, had the first ever HIAC match and then had a hot feud with the debuting Kane for the rest of the year.

Austin: Had the match of his career at 'Mania... I don't remember much of what he did from WM to SummerSlam though. Unfortunately Owen broke his neck, but he rebounded with many great moments with The Rock, Mike Tyson, and then officially kicked off the Austin era at WM14.

Shawn: He was absent at WM13, and I don't remember him doing much of significance until post SummerSlam when he started D-X, was involved in the screwjob, and then headlined WM14.

Bret: Probably he would have been the MVP of this year if the screwjob didn't happen. One of his best matches ever vs Austin at WM13, the Canada vs USA feud, wins the title at SummerSlam and then the Montreal screwjob.

It's almost impossible to pick between these four because they were all doing great work but they were all pretty absent during some time of the year as well, with the exception of Undertaker. With that said, I think I might agree with you that it's The Undertaker. The title win and lengthy reign, the debut and feud with Kane, HIAC and of course the fact that he was Vince's most reliable guy during a very turbulent year makes him the MVP. Tough call though.

 

[Goldie]

I would say what Austin did in 21 months (3 months injury removed) far outweighed what Taker did in 24 months.
Taker was available for 14% more of the time, but Austin had much more than 14% of the impact Taker did. Austin drove the entire product and made wrestling cool again, 1998 was phenomenal.

 

[CrucifiedRaven]

I would say what Austin did in 21 months (3 months injury removed) far outweighed what Taker did in 24 months.
Taker was available for 14% more of the time, but Austin had much more than 14% of the impact Taker did. Austin drove the entire product and made wrestling cool again, 1998 was phenomenal.

If you're talking about the full calendar years 1997 - 1998 then yes absolutely. I think the OP is referring to "WWE Years" as in the year between WM13 - WM14. But I never know, he never explains it properly in any of these MVP threads. I've answered some based on calendar years and others based on WWE years. 1998 100% belonged to Austin.

 

[Mac]

For me it's the Undertaker. I understand the arguments for Bret and Austin and rightfully so. But Taker is the mvp because he was putting on the best matches of the year (vs Mankind IYH, vs Austin IYH, vs Vader IYH, vs Bret SS and UK PPV, vs Shawn at both IYH and RR) he was involved in arguably the biggest storyline of the year with Kane culminating at WM 14 in a good match. He got a much deserved title run and was an excellent champion.